The Royal Oak in Shropshire

Our second visit whilst on holiday in the area. The food was very good and generous in portions. The pub was lively on a Friday with many locals and dogs. Well worth a visit.

Visited this lovely, quaint, unspoilt village pub this evening 5 September whilst staying locally at Court Farm, Gretton. We received a warm welcome from the landlord Steve and his wife who was the chef. We were advised that we could sit wherever we chose. We ordered Gammon Steak and a Burger. Both meals were fresh cooked, in a timely manner, served hot, cooked to perfection, plentifull and tasted delicious. We had one superb Salted Caramel Sundea and two lattes. We both really enjoyed our experience tonight. If you want an excellent meal at a reasonable price served by friendly pleasant staff in an unspoilt traditional country locals pub then look no further. We would definately recomend and return.

Lovely little locals pub, with decent food and beer at reasonable prices.

Very good food, highly recommend. They make excellent beef steaks here (I have never eaten better), excellent salmon and great desserts. Very pleasant atmosphere and staff.

You would pay in a big town /city 3 times as much for the quality of the food

A lovely little pub serving delicious food and well kept beer. Lovely polite staff. Would definitely recommend.

Lovely village pub with delightful, well priced food. Superlative chops, crunchy, wholesome veg and their signature Fidget Pie are highly recommended. Make sure you book and read the specials board when you arrive.

Thanks to the young chefs in the kitchen and the girl at the bar for making it a nice experience. The Sunday roasts were great

Lovely old style pub in the village of Cardington.

Lovely old pub, good beer, simple but great quality food, what more could you want

This was such a friendly pub, just stopped for a pint, lovely banter & atmosphere. Didn’t take my dog inside as it was a warm day but it was very dog friendly

Visited The Royal Oak during a walk. Lovely pub, sat outside with cold drinks and shared a fish finger sandwich with chunky chips.

A lovely little pub, very friendly staff with very good reasonably priced food. We had a table inside with our dog and enjoyed the food and beer.

We visited this country pub whilst visiting Shropshire for a short break. The pub has a great atmosphere and is really welcoming. There is a graet choice on the menus in addition to which there is a specials board. The food is extremely tasty, well cooked and plentiful and offered at very reasonable prices. The staff are efficient, attentive and friendly. There is no rush and the whole evening was very comfortable and relaxed

This is a lively rural locals pub with good beer and food. The welcome from Steve, the landlord, staff and customers is warm and welcoming. We hadn't visited for a few years, and we hadn't eaten here for much longer. That's going to change! This evening, salmon with lemon cream sauce, peas and new potatoes, and steak and mushroom pie with chips and seasonal vegetables was splendid. Hot, fresh food and just the right sized portions. We'll be back soon!

This is a lively rural locals pub with good beer and food. The welcome from Steve, the landlord, staff and customers is warm and welcoming. We hadn't visited for a few years, and we hadn't eaten here for much longer. That's going to change! This evening, salmon with lemon cream sauce, peas and new potatoes, and steak and mushroom pie with chips and seasonal vegetables was splendid. Hot, fresh food and just the right sized portions. We'll be back soon!

Thoroughly enjoyed 😉 The Royal Oak Cardington on Good Friday. Looking forward to visiting again over the summer months

Lovely proper pub like we remember when we were young. Lovely hearty food, had the steak and kidney pudding with fantastic chips! Definitely be visiting again.

Top service, excellent food, beautiful AONB location,and 20 years at least in the Good Beer Guide. Nuff said 😁 Still doing the deed 🍺👍

Absolutely fantastic valentine’s candle lit evening in this little country pub. Steve and the team put so much effort into making the evening special. The food and wine was excellent as usual.

We managed to get in here just in time for lunch after a lovely hill walk. Good beers on tap, a large menu and good food. Two super labradors also came and said hello.

Excellent food with old friends.

The Royal Oak is a lovely, traditional pub in set in the beautiful Shropshire countryside. The owners are welcoming, and there's a decent lunch menu including a specials board. When you're inside the pub it's like stepping back in time (in a good way) and feels cosy and relaxing. We've had lunch in the Royal Oak on many occasions and never been disappointed.

Pop in for a drink. Very friendly

Been to the Royal Oak tonight for a Christmas meal with the family and all I can say was it was 👌😊

We were a group of 11 and a dog. We turned up here after a long blustery walk. We received a lovely warm welcome and they managed to accomdate us all for lunch. 2 of our party are celiac and 1 Gluten intolerant Nothing was too much trouble. All our food was amazing , even the Dog got free biscuits. Home cooked delicious food, tastes that took me back to Childhood. Highly Recommend this beautiful place x

Brilliant pub and food is exquisite. Friendly, happy atmosphere. I'll be returning very soon

A friend and I meet up once a month for a catch-up, for October it was my choice and I chose The Royal Oak, about an hours journey and we were not disappointed The Royal Oak is a charming and proper country pub with many hundreds of years history We were greeted by the landlord who was very friendly and offered a number of different places to sit and dine and quickly given menus to make our selections. After our orders were taken we had to wait no more than 15 to 2- mins, for our meals to arrive I chose their famous Fidget Pie and was not disappointed at all, it was a large portion and I struggled to finish it, because of its size and it was so tasty. My friend ordered the Steak and `kidney pice and was equally overwhelmed by the size of the meal and had to unfortunately fail on finishing it, although we both managed to cram in a dessert Overall, a great welcome, amazing food and a friendly and interesting old school, proper pub Highly recommended

Fabulous, traditional pub. Great food, friendly staff

First time visiting. Warm welcome on our arrival. We ordered sandwiches which were freshly made to order and served beautifully with fresh salad and crisps and arrived quickly. Thoroughly enjoyed our whistle-stop visit.

A beautiful hidden gem in the countryside which we found whilst glamping nearby. We had a very tasty Sunday lunch here as a family, although the boy decided he wanted the beef burger (which he said was absolutely amazing!) - great portion size, too. Stunning Sunday lunch, where we both enjoyed the beef with a variety of seasonal freshly cooked veggies to choose from - including my fave, cauliflower cheese - and delicious homemade gravy. The pub itself is old-fashioned, cosy and really does take you back in time; but in a lovely way. It was great to sit at the table and be able tk look up and around at all the history, memorabilia, trinkets, pictures etc dotted around the place. Again, as mentioned previously, it really is a hidden gem in a beautiful little village. The owner/landlord was very friendly and welcoming upon our arrival & seated us promptly to our table, after taking our drinks order, which we had booked the evening before - I'm so pleased we did because they were fully booked, saying to people who walked in that they were unfortunately unable to accommodate them. Friendly staff who served us also, polite and attentive when needed. The owner also went out of his way to sort out the broadband/Internet for us as it wasn't connecting - so he went upstairs (I think I heard him say to a member of the bar staff) to reset the hub/router and sorted it all out on his tablet at the bar. We were very grateful as we hadn't brought cash with us and were relying on that "good old" trusty Internet banking, but of course were unable to access it until the lovely owner fixed it for us. Younger one was also pleased to be "connected to technology & wifi" whilst we waited for food 😉 Highly recommend to anyone who is in the area, and definitely book a table ahead! Hope to revisit next year.

A beautiful hidden gem in the countryside which we found whilst glamping nearby. We had a very tasty Sunday lunch here as a family, although the boy decided he wanted the beef burger (which he said was absolutely amazing!) - great portion size, too. Stunning Sunday lunch, where we both enjoyed the beef with a variety of seasonal freshly cooked veggies to choose from - including my fave, cauliflower cheese - and delicious homemade gravy. The pub itself is old-fashioned, cosy and really does take you back in time; but in a lovely way. It was great to sit at the table and be able tk look up and around at all the history, memorabilia, trinkets, pictures etc dotted around the place. Again, as mentioned previously, it really is a hidden gem in a beautiful little village. The owner/landlord was very friendly and welcoming upon our arrival & seated us promptly to our table, after taking our drinks order, which we had booked the evening before - I'm so pleased we did because they were fully booked, saying to people who walked in that they were unfortunately unable to accommodate them. Friendly staff who served us also, polite and attentive when needed. The owner also went out of his way to sort out the broadband/Internet for us as it wasn't connecting - so he went upstairs (I think I heard him say to a member of the bar staff) to reset the hub/router and sorted it all out on his tablet at the bar. We were very grateful as we hadn't brought cash with us and were relying on that "good old" trusty Internet banking, but of course were unable to access it until the lovely owner fixed it for us. Younger one was also pleased to be "connected to technology & wifi" whilst we waited for food 😉 Highly recommend to anyone who is in the area, and definitely book a table ahead! Hope to revisit next year.

Most of the poor reviews are from miserable losers who upon investigation seem to find fault with every place they visit in their lives. The food here is excellent, the beer is excellent, and if the miserable people actually attempted to interact with the people around them they would find the staff are also excellent. This pub is very recommended. However, do keep tabs on the closing time so you dont get caught out looking for a late lunch!

Five of us had Sunday lunch. The roasts were marvellous an the beer was excellent. I shared a bottle of bordeaux which tasted wonderful and was fantastic value. I even managed to walk back to Church Stretton

Exceptional food - simple fresh ingredients cooked really well

We had a very enjoyable evening at the Royal Oak Cardington. To arrive at the venue lanes are narrow, but it is worth it. Beautiful village, pub full of character, local ales, excellent menu, and worth trying their Fidget pie. Will return.

Pub full of character and in a peaceful idyllic location. Professional friendly hospitality, reasonably priced good food, small beer garden at the front, ample parking.

A really good ,traditional Shropshire pub.

Fabulous Country Pub and very well kept beer. Perfect. Will be back.

Good selection of beers and wine. Steve pours a great Guinness. Great atmosphere in a friendly pub, in a friendlier village.

Went for a few beers and a meal. Food was great and a very reasonable price and beers top notch , friendly staff , would deffo call again

Unfortunately this historic pub has seen better days. Shabby and unkempt entrance with dead plants and in desperate need of some weeding. Upon entering we were met by the most miserable and unfriendly woman serving behind the bar. Only one other customer inside. Would have stayed for food but felt very unwelcome so had a quick drink outside and left. Don't waste your time.

Very well looked after for a light lunch after a walk on the Lawley. Good beer and very generous sandwiches with loads of filling. They also looked after our dog with water and a bonio! Friendly and relaxed, just what you need.

My daughter & I ate here, hers was adequate, mine was dreadful. I ordered a courgette, pepper & cream cheese schnitzel - when I cut into the pyramid like schnitzel I found a whole courgette (I kid you not) which was totally raw! I informed the owner who said he’d fix it only to reappear 2 minutes later with my plate steaming from being in the microwave thus rendering the rest of my meal inedible (the courgette was hot but still raw). I expected an apology & no bill for the meal - I got neither 😔

Went for Mother's Day. Busy but not overwhelming. Service was very fast and staff friendly and attentive. The food was plentiful and amazing. Exceptional value for money. Highly recommend.

Walked from Church Stretton and we were hungry and thirsty. Landlord occasionally gets a bit of stick on here but he is just a little dour. The service provided was excellent. We all drank Staropramen in various forms, reasonable at £4.80. Two of us had the steak pudding, chips and peas...fantastic. It was a long time before I ate again.

Ate there yesterday as guest of brother in law. He had the teetering tower of pork with black pudding and I had the suet steak and kidney pudding ( with chips to die for) whilst my wife had the game pie with stolen chips to die for from my plate. Brother in law would be returning tomorrow evening, for a fish Friday cod spectacular if only his camp site was walkable in the dark. Well done everyone.

have not been for 45 years went in and we where at the bar firstly a lady mushed my wife out of the way then a gent walked in said i want to get to the bar and pushed me out of the way and the bar ban served him immediately possibly a local toff we walked out and met a couple and they said it was not unusual but it is mostly the landlord

A gem! A traditional pub serving a good selection of food for a reasonable price. The staff were lovely and service was quick, even though they were busy. We’ve been twice and we’ll go again.

Well kept beer and a nice lunch mid walk!

We were staying in hamlet next to Cardington and for a week we visited the The Royal Oak three times, Beer, food & staff great in a very nice pub. Thank you

A proper country pub unspoilt by big breweries. Muddy boot and dog friendly. Food looked good but never had time to try it. Locals complain about inconsistent opening hours so best check before you make a special visit. Lovely old stone fireplace but fitted with an electric fire......what a shame !!

Proper proper pub food, great atmosphere and lovely staff

Friendly service, good beer, lovely location. We didn't eat there but the menu looked good. And they provide overshoes for muddy boots - great idea.

In the area for a short time and this place was recommended to me. Good beers, very good food and friendly service. Have tried the local special "Fidget" pie (gammon in a cider sauce), and also a lamb liver special, plus my brother had the Halloumi Burger which he rated. This is apparently one of the oldest pubs in Shropshire.

Great range of beers and amazing food.

What a title gem in the heart of walking country. A traditional pub with real ales and hearty food. We had fish finger sandwiches post walk. Delicious!

Very good traditional pub. Great prices and Staff

Great pub, stopped in after a cold wet stomp around the hills.

My husband and I arrived at The Royal Oak after a difficult three hour drive, craving home cooking and a warm and welcoming atmosphere for weary travellers. We can say now that it was the best place on earth for us at that point! The gentleman landlord was very considerate. The food was incredible, well presented & piping hot. The homemade soup was genuinely superb and ranked with the best I had ever tasted. We will never forget The Royal Oak and can’t wait to return one day!

Fantastic food. Excellent service and manners.

Very old traditional pub, held together with beams of every conceivable shape and size. Extensive, but not expensive, pub menu. All well prepared and nicely presented. We ate there twice during our week's holiday in the area.

Olde worlde pub..felt cosy and comfortable and loved the food all homemade! An amazing huge stone fireplace! Definitely would return. Service with a smile and nice people!

Was camping locally found, booked Sunday lunch & wasn’t disappointed, found the whole experience was really pleasant, food & drink reasonably priced, Went back a couple of times for lunch and again really pleased

Decided to visit all 10 of the oldest pubs in Shropshire, this was No1, based on distance and menu (somewhat exaggerated sadly) set in the beautiful village of Cardington just a short distance from Church Stretton. Possibly one of the smallest pubs ive ever visited, very low ceilings serviced by the tallest of men who after 15 years of ownership walks with an exaggerated stoop (no doubt having spent years with a bruised cranium! The beer was good and food though simple was freshly cooked and tasty, really fancied the Fidget pie but having asked of its portion size decided my shrinking appetite could be my undoing (hate waste) Conclusion :if your looking for a watering hole of architectural age and historical interest and friendly owners its well worth a visit.

Enjoyed a second evening here with friends and had a tasty meal. Friendly service again and more darts!

Food was delicious. Landlord was not very polite or welcoming. A shame.

Perfect countryside pub! The beer tastes even better after a hike up nearby Caradoc!

Stayed overnight in the car park has a lovely meal with lots of choice. Many thanks to the owners. Lots of walking too.

A group of 6 of us visited twice. We had a selection of sandwiches at lunchtime the first visit. We all enjoyed the food and the lovely picturesque setting, choosing to sit outside in the sun with the dog. Second time we sampled 3 courses...

Saw this advertised as oldest pub in Shropshire, longish journey for us, about 50 mins. If we had just driven by we would have thought it was closed down, as it looked very dilapidated .Having driven this far we ventured in, very quite but a...

Food was absolutely beautiful just a shame it wasn’t served with a smile, the so to be believed landlord Steve was unbelievable rude, I have never visited before and certainly won’t be retuning which is a shame as the food is lovely. The beer is...

Good food. Slightl aloofness from the landlord...

Sunday to Wednesday special price. Good food

Lovely unspoilt friendly pub with great beers.

Call in today for drinks with family lovely pub and friendly staff, highly recommend

Lovely welcoming pub. TOP CLASS cheesy chips and good selection of ciders.

This is a fab local pub. Great selection of food on the menu with 3 or 4 extra choices on the specials board. We are in the area on holiday for a week and have eaten here twice so far, both times had 3 course meals and loved what we have had. Will be visiting again soon. The photos show a selection of the food we have had, such as trout and potato salad starter, breaded camembert, whitebait, Sunday lunch, Portuguese tarts, ice cream sundae, all very very good. Lovely friendly staff, and locals, in the pub too. Highly recommend it. Looking forward to our next visit.

Great beer, great food, excellent service 👍

Good pub to stop off at while out walking

Lunch with family on a lovely spring day. Food was gorgeous. I had fab salmon and prawn carbonara. OH had game pie, which he loved.

Lovely old inn with great pub food. Really enjoyed my special of mushroom wellington with a tomato sauce. Others had fidget and game pies.

Great country pub with character and fireplace. Nice selection of real Ales. Perfect spot to hike to via nearby hills. I have eaten there in the past and the food was good

A proper country pub. Owners excellent and great customers. Didn’t eat on this occasion - just a couple of pints. Will definitely come again.

Lovely olde worlde pub with nostalgic convivial atmosphere. You sense the old rural Shrophire ways there.... also blessed with a vegan gluten free meal which was really tasty.. and my partner had the old Shropshire receipt for Fidget Pie... Will certainly revisit... the church was also a lovely experience with ancient links to the Knights Templar and beautiful yew trees..and a fabulous Monkey Puzzle.

Good country pub good value food good selection of beers and something for everyone.

I used to really enjoy my visits here when I lived in the area and it was great to be back and to find the place in good form. We enjoyed our two different cask ales and we both had the beef and horseradish sandwiches....

Really good food and excellent service

We've recently moved our caravan to the area, we've now visited 3 times and not been disappointed once. We've been for Sunday lunch today oh my absolutely lovely shall be going again, the food was gorgeous, Staff friendly and it's always warm and welcoming.

Excellent pub, highly recommended for food! I had the famous fidget pie and it was really good. Dog friendly with dog treats offered too.

A hearty Sunday lunch was the perfect way to finish a gorgeous walk through the hills nearby. Traditional, warm and friendly pub serving great food and drink for sensible prices. Discovered that the puddings were superb. Can't wait to go back and repeat the whole...

Great food, HUGE portions. Would recommend!

Fantastic meal in this hidden gem. Great pub grub that was served perfectly thank you

Great country pub! Love it to bits

Freshly prepared food. A chance to enjoy home cooking at it's best.

We have had some lovely lunches here and tried many different meals.The food is always outstanding and the choice is amazing. The staff are very friendly without being over the top and everywhere is so clean. We really like the quirky ginger cat too. Love...

Staying locally so popped in 1 evening, good selection of food on the menu, the Chilli was nice washed down with a couple of pints of Sharps Doom bar also well kept and not expensive.

Lovely little pub, friendly staff and good beers

Great little pub, warm and cozy. The food was great and the staff friendly. Can't ask for more.

Excellent food. Great choice of dishes. Plenty of vegetarian options. Good selection of drinks.